becoming limitless… !

Bradleeeeyyyy in Limitless

In 2011 the movie Limitless was released. The film follows Edward Morra, a struggling writer who is introduced to a brain boosting drug called NZT-48, which gives him the ability to fully use his brain, work incessantly, have a photographic memory and vastly improve his lifestyle. I was enthralled. I have always had a fascination with supplements and herbs to help enhance my memory and recall, which is at best mediocre and at times almost embarrassing.

I set about researching the drug that the movie was based around, Modafinal - a drug used for people with the sleep disorder narcolepsy. Turns out that Modafinal is, quite rightly, a prescription only medication. That said, it drew me into the world of nootropics - drugs, supplements, and other substances that are claimed to improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in otherwise healthy individuals. I ended up becoming a little obsessed and after doing some research I ordered smart drugs off the internet. Yes, not the smartest move in the world but I love to push boundaries and to try new things.

That was almost ten years ago so, suffice to say, I didn’t become a world renowned author, solve world hunger or make a million but I definitely felt some effects. I had less social anxiety, was definietly sharper and my recall was better but strangely I felt flatter and my sense of humour wasnt what it was. Then there was the fact that as a fully qualified naturopath and herbalist, it felt a little off to be taking synthetic smart drugs from Russia. So I got back to the brain and memory basics. I still havent made a million but these basic lifestyle and diet recommendations and some pretty potent nootropic herbs can provide innumerable benefts for the healthy functioning of the brain and the nervous system - without the side effects.

Lifestyle & Nutrition Recommendations for healthy brain finction

Exercise I like to say that anything that is good for the heart, is good for the brain. Exercise is a perfect example of this. It improves the tone of the blood vessels which feed the brain, allowing more blood flow, it improves the bodies control of blood sugar, reduces blood pressure and inflammation, all of which damage cerebral tissues. It also indirectly improves brain function and memory by improving sleep and reducing cortisol levels. Add to this research that suggests that aerobic exercise appears to boost the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning and you have the original smartdrug!

Get plenty of sleep Sleep plays a very important role in both brain health and in memory function. Not only is it shown in innumerable studies that sleep deprivation causes changes in reasoning and problem solving but it also causes a reduction in the ability of the the brain to both lay down memories and also to recall. Thus it is thought that sleep has a major role to play in both extracting the meaning of new memories and consolidating them into long term memory. There is also the idea that sleep also helps provide this consolidating memory function for immune cells, thereby enabling them to more competently recognise pathogens.

Keep stress under control Although stress can be helpful in small doses to help with memory, like cramming for those exams, longterm it can impair memory. It essentially comes back to the fact that when you are under stress, survival mode, mediated by the amygdala takes over. This means that all of the brains resources are used up looking after survival and thus the parts of the brain involved in laying down memories have less energy and resources to work with. This can in part explain why people experiencing long term stress can feel as though their memories are foggy and have problems with recall. Dont forget that if you exercise the parts of the brain involved in stress more regularly then you will be wiring them to be more efficient at mounting that stress response next time. So be careful what you give a shit about.

Stay mentally active The old adage “Use it or lose it”is particularly relevant in terms of memory and healthy brain function. Researchers have found that people who keep their brain more active by reading, doing crosswords, sudoku, having hobbies, playing card games or even just watching shows like The Chase and playing along, experience improvements in memory loss. Remember, although its not a muscle per se, exercise your brain and it will grow stronger and more resilient.

Have a healthy diet Your diet plays a large role in your brain health and cognition. Without going into a huge amount of detail the top line recommendations from me are: Number one - reduce sugar and refined carbohydrates as they drive brain inflammation, cause a stress response and are shown to reduce memory, recall and executive functioning. Secondly, eat a diet rich in essential fatty acids - particularly the omega 3 fatty acids EPA/DHA and ditch the trans fats. EFAS are intrinsically involved in both the structure and the function of the brain and neurons. EPA dampens inflammation in the tissues, mediates the fluidity of the cell membranes and up regulates the absorption and action of the DHA. DHA is very electrically active and allows faster communication between neurons thus theoretically improving cellular communication and memory. Eating all of your veges will also ensure that you are getting antioxidants into your diet which helps to reduce some of the oxidation which your brain, as a fatty structure, is particularly prone to.

Remain socially involved Not such great information for the introverts amongst us, but it seems that those who maintain close social contacts are less likley to develop cognitive decline. Thes reasons for this are likely multifactorial - people with more social contacts are more likely to go out more, talk more, play games and do all those things that help to keep people mentally active. Also a study using mice actually found that aged mice which lived in larger groups had physiologically younger brains than those that lived just with one other and also that they were more able to memorise mazes than their coupled counter parts. This is probably more pertinent for those of us reaching older age but the effects are probably cumulative so maybe rent out your empty bedrooms and get more social!

Minimise distractions and multi tasking is a myth If you have to remember information or have an important task to do that requires concentration then for pitys sake - leave your phone somewhere else. There is a huge amount of information to suggest that just even small distractions like checking your phone can really diminish your ability to learn information and to recall it later. In fact an inability to ignore distractions is positively linked to deficits in short term memory function. Multitasking may seem like something you need to do these days but research shows that the this kind of working affects the way you learn, making the knowledge you do actually manage to take in, more difficult to retain and to recall at a later date.

Pay attention and use memory tricks Following on from minimising distractions is the absolute fact that the first phase of memory is paying attention. What you pay attention to is what your brain decides is most important to remember. So if you need to remember important information then try and pay attention to what it is! Its easier to remember things that you understand as well so maybe take some time to understand the material. Some people find writing information down and rereading it can help to consolidate it, as can making mnemonics, and chunking information into bits or relating it to information you already know. As a chronic name forgetter I find that repeating the persons name three times in my head and using their name once in conversation is a helpful way to remember names.

MISTYS TOP FIVE HERBS FOR OPTIMAL BRAIN FUNCTION AND MEMORY

Ashwagandha

Withania somnifera Traditionally used in Ayurveda for improving memory, ashwagandha has both indirect and direct functions for improving memory. For one, it helps to modify the response to stressors and ensure that they body comes back to baseline more readily after a period of stress. As mentioned, stress has a deleterious effect on both mood and memory so making the response shorter can help memory function. Secondly it is shown to improve restorative sleep which in turn has benefits for consolidating memory. Studies as well show that ashwagandha improves reaction times, general memory, task performance and attention. It is also thought to have an antioxidant activity which helps to reduce age related nerve cell damage. You can find it here on its own Ashwagandha or in many of our potions including Bliss, Lovers, Moon and Magick Cocoa ( clearly a fave of mine!)

Bacopa

Bacopa monnieri Bitter and cooling, bacopa is used in Ayurveda as a nootropic to improve intellect and memory and is an important component of many Ayurvedic herbal formulations to manage conditions such as memory, lack of concentration, and anxiety. Similar to ashwagandha, it has both a direct and indirect action on memory and cognition. As an adaptogen like herb, it is thought to help to minimise the ill effects of stress on the central nervous system and memory. It also has a multi faceted direct action on the nervous system, as it suppresses the action of a acetylcholine esterase; an enzyme which breaks down acetycholine. This is a neurotransmitter linked to higher learning, attention and memory. This allows acetycholine to hang around in the synapse for longer, supporting attention and memory. Numerous studies show its benefits for supporting attention, working memory and recall in both otherwise healthy adults and those with cognitive impairments. It may also have an action on serotonin and is considered a good herb for mood. You can find bacopa in the wonderful tincture - Blue Skies from Aetheria

Gotu kola

Centella asiatica Another cooling and drying herb from Ayurveda, gotu kola is a favourite of mine. It has a calming action and has a wonderful way of reducing alertness and increasing focus. In this way, it reduces the susceptibility to distraction which has ill effects for learning and memory. It is thought that gotu kola ( like Lions Mane) may support the function of Nerve Growth Factor ( NGF) which is involved in the development, structure, action and restoration of all nervous tissues both in the central and peripheral nervous system. This means gotu kola may be of benefit when there is damage to the nervous system. In addition it enhances blood flow to the brain, strengthens blood vessels and reduces oxidation reducing the risk of degenerative changes. It also has an adaptogen like action and is thought to support sleep thereby having both an indirect and direct action on brain function and cognition. Did I mention it is also thought to enhance microcirculation and collagen synthesis for skin and vein health as well? You can find gotu kola in our brain and cognition formula - Shroom Potion and in the Aetheria tincture Higher Self

Holy Basil

Ocimum sanctum is once again a herb with a deep and long history in Ayurveda. Considered one of the best adaptogenic herbs, this member of the mint family has many benefits both for brain function and for general health. Its indirect actions for memory and brain function include its benefits in minimising the ill effects that stress has on the brain, reducing metabolic stress due to its blood sugar regulating actions, reducing inflammation and oxidation. It also is shown to have a calming but uplifting action while also directly enhancing memory and cognition and reducing the cognitive decline associated with aging. Did I mention that some people liken its actions to that of yoga? And we all know how good yoga is! You can find holy basil in our in our Magick Cocoa

Lions Mane

Hericium erinaceus Lions Mane come to us from Chinese medicine and is enjoying its time in the sun right now as the nootropic of choice for many. It is shown to support he bodys production of nerve growth factor (NGF) which in turn supports the development, maintenance and restoration of all nervous tissue. So you could summize from this that Lions Mane may be helpful in supporting people to maintain the healthy functioning of the nervous system and thus optimal memory, learning and cognition. It may also support the healthy restoration of nervous system tissue if there has been an injury or during degenerative changes to the nervous system. For memory function there is research to suggest that Lions Mane may be helpful in improving working memory in older adults who were experiencing mild cognitive decline. The results for otherwise healthy adults are not yet established but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence for improved mental performatnace and mood in adults. Lions Mane also has benefits for the immune system and for gut health. You can find Lions Mane in Shroom Potion, Shroom Squad, Magick Cocoa, Lions Mane , Magick Coffee, Magick Matcha

So there you have it. You are now basically Limitless and I expect great things of you all.

xx Misty xx